D-2-A-1A
Memo to attorney for the Temple regarding several properties, Summer/fall 1978
MARSHALL SCHWARTZ – we talked to him (Leona [Collier], Vee [Hollins], Mac [Jim McElvane] and I) after talking to Don Freed. This was not the ideal situation, but Mac had scheduled the appointment and it was not possible to not have everyone go. He gave pertinent and information points very concisely and filled a half-hour with much help. Said he had read the L.A. Times article on Medlocks, so knew of it. He was warm, and asked right off if we were intending to dump White at the start of the conflict of interest.
- Lis pendence – cannot be filed against the property unless the property itself were the issue at hand in the suit.
- Lien – a lien attachment cannot be obtained until there is a judgement.
- A Judgment Lien – said that in L.A. it would not be obtained for at least 4 years. He did not know how fast the same proceedings would move in Mendocino County. He could see in any case at least 6 months to a year in demurs in the case. The suit is not at issue until all parties are either served or are dismissed. It is active as far as P.T.. A judgement lien could be filed in abstract on all our properties when and if a judgement is obtained. Then, I am sure [Eugene] Chaikin knows this, no title company or agency will deal with the property until the settlement is made. The plaintiff would file a abstract of judgement in all counties where we have property and we would not be able to move anything without settling.
One thing he mentioned about the suits, that if there are several of this typ of suit filed against a charity, the AG will be activited to look into the organization. It is the AG’s duty to see that all charitable organizations perform as they are charged, and the funds spend accordingly. Said he has a close rapport with the Deputy AG in LA named Larry Tapper, in case we need help in the future in that regard. I asked, without saying why, if he knew of a Michael Nash in Deputy AG office in L.A. he said no and did not ask further about it.
Re. the ranch sale, he said in the tax deferred property exchange that he would run through all the papers for us to see if the deal were safe. He will see we are cleared of whatever warranties we are giving his (Carrington – the buyer) buyer he endemnifies us for. In other words, that we are held harmless in the exchange.
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[page 2 of memo missing]
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D-2-A-1B
-3-
He recommended we stay away from putting our resources in the B of A [Bank of America] in Guyana or any American bank. He did not go to lengths with this, but intimated they were not secure in such a situation.
His recommendation would be to get George off the case from the start. Of course, he does not know all the background, but his point seems valid. If we do not protest, we lose our right to object to him as the attorney.
He will post any interested clients in the real estate up for exchange for an airplane. He will have a letter no later than end of by-laws. He has been remiss in this. He offered he had been remiss. Seemed apologetic.
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D-2-A2
- RE MANN: He was solicitous and called frequently at first. We talked (Leona, Tim, and I ) with him in the “Regency Suite” of the Mark Hopkins Hotel. He listened attentively to our version of the K. [Kathy] Hunter story. He said what probably happened was the government “watched” her since they had grown suspicious of her. A journalist in their country aslways has an escort. When they discovered she was a journalist they probably aseked her what her intentions were. If she came across with an alibi, she would automatically be watched. He had no trouble accepting our side of it. Several times we asked (and Mac asked later) for a written statemtn of some sort from the Guyanese government to clear the air. He did not respond.
He also was concerned with the Channel 2 coverage and wanted detailed information about the petition, the names of the people and actually who they had overseas as relarives. So we broke the list down again the next say and delivered the report to him. He basically seemed to understand the nature of the hostile, anti-black anti-socialist press. He gave
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D-2-A-4
page 5
his own exapmles of the same – i.e. coverage of the war in Zaire. They always mention the white bodies, but what about the black bodies left in the streets, too? We explained the characters of the Channel 2 broadcast, gave the background on John Haynes and Mrs. Fields family overseas. He said he did not understand why the press aired that stuff (or was that just an American phenomenon that when family members should choose to live apart from the mothers and fathers. – especially a black country – that the news finds that a newsworthy story?) He said many Guyanese choose to live in a foreign country and sure it causes parents distress – but it is not news. Well, we worked with all that to show him the biased nature of the coverage. He said the news should consult with him, with [U.S. Consul Richard] McCoy, with the Guyanese government before airing that stuff. They have all been checked out. We agreed, but again said it was because we’re socialist, and we had learned to expect nothing but bad treatment from the press. He said he would call Channel 2 and inform them of their error, but I doubt he did. He said – when we later asked him about it – that he would have to weigh advantages over disadvantages. Would a small retraction really help, when they might just lash out more vindictively the next time? He is cautious and says nothing to commmit himself in any way.
Later, the next day, I went back to deliver some papers. I had called the hotel and there was no answer, so I took some papers he had asked for (copies of the Moore’s statements) and sat in the lobby. I called several times and finally when I called he was in his room. Tom was there, sitting in the lobby, too. He asked me to come up to the room with the papers. He talked further about Channel 2, and then I took the occasion to ask him about John [Victor Stoen]. That is when he started to make suggestions around the issue – such as JJ use Lucy’s help to try to assist Frances, or even try to assist himself or some other third party. (It was extremely shallow and chauvinistic on his part. He was evidencing his position that everything involving women can be settled with a fuck.) He kept asking why I – just like Paula and others he knows from the Temple – all sound alike on that issue. I kept insisting that there was no compromise on the issue, that we would simply not give over the child come what may. He asked if we would defy a Guyanese court order if it came to that. I said that we simply would not let anyone, whether this child or any other child or person, be taken against their will or be used as a pawn because the issue was not the child – the issue was that the conspiracy was trying any and every method to get William. I kept on like this, and he pulled me down on his chest and tried to kiss me. He said one thing was true of all the Temple women he had met – they were all irresistible. I pulled away and said I had too much feeling and loyalty to my friend Paula, and I knoew how much she cared for him. I simply could not do it. He said what had he asked me to do – she would never know – etc. and tried to kiss me some more. I stood up and said it was my problem but I had too much guilt and I would have to go. He said a few more lame things and I left. It was excruciating. Later that day when he came over for lunch and to see the building he was quiet, very observant of everything, but non-committal and not very communicative. He was noticeably impressed with the building, and when we took him back to the hotel he asked Mac if he would go out drinking with him. The problem, he was saying, with Temple people is they don’t drink. He never called back after that. Tom and others kept a constant watch on the hotel from the lobby and saw him come in and go out with a variety of people, but none of whom they recognized as Stoen “or any we would know. Mostly date-type companions, double dates etc. Overall, the visit here was social, I think, but we would have no way of knowing whom he called or saw when he went out.
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D-2-A-14
Debbie Touchette notes of meeting with attorney J.T. Clarke re: Stoens, October 8, 1978
Deborah Touchette
October 8, 1978
J.T. Clarke
w/Jim [Jones Jr.], Evette [Yvette Muldrow Jones], Deb T.
– We talked to him on Thursday, I asked him if he had herd anything about the situation involving John Stoen, and that situation
– He said we had nothing to worry about, that is taken care of, you people worry unnecessarily. He said that is being sat on, thats the governments way of handling the situation diplomatically.
– He claimed that there was no order out for Jims arrest, he said there was a order to serve papers, but no order for his arrest, but that was no good at this point because no judge was handling the case.
– He said the govt. made there position known to Judge Bishop and rather then make a decision, he claimed that he was receiving phone calls from both sides which prohibited him from making a decission fairly, so his diplomatic approch to the situation was to hand the case over to Judge Bollers
– and Judge Bollers, he thought would not re-assign the case, he would let it sit.
– I asked him how long a case could sit before it was consirded no longer any good
– or could not be USED in court.
– he sadi five years
– So you think they will let the case sit for five years….? I asked.
– he shook his head yes.
– he said there was never a problem for Jim to travel, and there is no problem now. (he had the files on the Stoen Case on his desk)
– he told us he would like for us to come out to his home one week-end and spend it with him and his wife, siad we could come to his home first, because he wanted to return the favor of us having him and his wife at our home.
– he said he hopped to come to J/town before the end of the year.
– he had previously asked Terri & I out to lunch, but he could not make the date because he held over in court, but offered to do it another time.
– I told him you were very concerned about his health, and wanted to know how he was doing?
– He said thank you very much, he was doing much better, that he had overtaxed himself this week, he and his wife had been working out in the pig pens and had to attend a funurel in town shortly after they finished thier work.
– He said to give love to Cde. Jones, he hoped to come out here soon
– he asked that we don’t keep that man couped up there, let him travel to get his medical attention. He seemed deeply concerned when he said this, it was said with a lot of feeling
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D-2-K-9A
Draft of letter to attorney J.T. Clarke on issues facing Jonestown, September 1978
[Editor’s note: This letter was supposedly written by Temple attorney Eugene Chaikin. However, his name is misspelled on every page.]
[first paragraph illegible]
The first issue is that of VINCENT LOPEZ, JR. Vincent was born on 26 February, 1963. Accordingly, he is now 15 years and 7 months of age. He first come to the project in June of 1976, and has remained there ever since. He was sent here by his legal guardian, one Walter Jones, Jr. The guardianship was formally established in the superior Court of Alameda County, California.
From the time he entered Guyana, he has been here ever since; and his guardian, who brought him here, was in Guyana only once briefly in 1976. For all intents and purposes, Vincent is a self-supporting member of our community. Neither Vincent nor I have received any communication from Walter Jones since July of 1976. Consequent on my being down here, last month I arranged to have a motion filed to be released as attorney of record in the guardianship case because I was not in a position to make the formal court reports required in that I had no way of communicating with Walter Jones. Nevertheless, Walter Jones has been for several years a member of the group in the United States that has been functioning with hostility towards our community.
Walter Jones is the lover of Grace Stoen and the person that she ran off with at the time she abandoned John, and of course, Vincent was abandoned by Walter as well in the process. (Grace left with Walter after Jim Jones refused to be whitemailed* by her into marriage. She took up with him out of spite. He is a known racist and hated Blacks, Indians, etc. She was told in the first place that Jim Jones was not romantically involved with her and he told that. Her husband had asked him to do it to keep her from lying and
*we say whitemailed because of the derogatory use of black, as in black, black-balled, blackened you name, etc. – is racist usage.
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D-2-K-9B
Chaiken: Clarke -2-
and hurting people as she had strong right-wing press connections at that time. In an act of showing hostility to Jim’s child, Grace would take the child into the garage and would tell him that she was going to make love. The child has it implanted in his brain; we have not talked about it in some months, but I presume he still has it there though we have tried to get his mind off of it. He was locked in this garage and listening to them jump up and down on the bed, caused him to try to jump off a balcony. If she were a sane woman, and not filled with insane passions, Jim would never have gone through this – so much cost, and put our people through so many dangers and made conspirators much more vicious against us.)
Our question is simply put: What defenses if any, would exist in the event that Walter Jones were to attempt to retrieve Vincent from Guyana using legal process? Secondly, if defenses do exist, is there anything we can do between this date and Vincent’s sixteenth birthday to better secure his legal right to remain in Guyana? If adoption is an alternative, please outline the steps that should be taken. (I believe that his mother is dead, and his father in jail.)
The next subject deals with a financial transaction that we would like to enter into which would require, we feel, your help in obtaining governmental approval. We are presently holding checks (mostly Social Security income) issue from the United States in U.S. dollars to residents of Jonestown, which have been endorsed by them in blank. We need to utilize these funds which would total perhaps several thousands of dollars for the purchase of certain equipment in the United States and England to be sent here: primarily mechanical equipment and sheet aluminum. We do not have that much [illegible] and we are not yet self-sufficient by any means and with all of the work that our free medical clinic does, taking so many Guyanese in our headquarters, and giving the free medical care here [illegible 3 words] was agency called the best free medical clinic [illegible balance of page]
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D-2-K-9C
Chaiken: Clarke -3-
The United States or England either by (a) re-deposit in an account which we would establish, or (b) by means of drafts written directly from the Bank of Guyana’s New York account. In that we have ordered goods in the United States and England, the funds would remain unused for a period of three to four weeks only. We would like you to approach the officials of the Bank of Guyana and, if possible, work out this transaction, giving us the detailed steps of how it is to be completed.
We would of course be most concerned about the charges the bank would impose for this service. In that we would be using the bank as an agent for collection of the checks only, it appears to us that normal bank charges with respect to currency exchange transactions would not be applicable. We are hoping that this particular item would receive your immediate attention in that we are currently very much pressed to receive the goods that can be purchased with these funds.
The next subject matter deals with our new Guyanese cooperation. We would like to know it’s status at this time. Further, we have the following questions: First, is it required that Guyanese citizens be directors of the corporation? If so, what percentage of the directors? Further, we would wish to know if it is possible that certain prestigious Guyanese such as yourself might be willing to [illegible] as members of the Board, and, if, in your opinion, it would be in your best interest to make such an arrangement.
As you know, we keep funds in an “external account.” There seems to be some question as to whether or not changing [illegible balance of page]
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D-2-K-9D
Chaiken: Clarke -4-
answers to these questions into writing, but it is our hope that ultimately, it will create a savings in time on both of our behalfs in that questions that have been put, need be answered only once, and that we will have a clearer line of communication and a more accurate reference for our concerns. If you would be so kind as to prepare a memo or letter of response, we will see to it that someone from our Georgetown office will pick it up from your office as soon as he or she is notified that it is prepared, and will see to it that it is forwarded to me in Jonestown.
Please accept our warmest regards to yourself and your father.
Cooperatively Yours,
[signed] Eugene B. Chaiken
EBC: tl [Tish Leroy]
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D-2-L-1
Debbie Touchette report of meeting with Lionel Luckhoo, June 28, 1978
Lionel Luckhoo
w/Marceline [Jones], Sharon [Amos], Deb. T. [Touchette]
June 28, 1978
Deb Touchette
– Marceline asked Lionel if it would be possible to write a letter asking Tim Stoen to take a test to prove fatherhood of the child.
– Lionel said it would be of no use in the courts here, but because of the publicity given to our situation it could be done by our attorney in the U.S.
– When you contact your lawyer tell him this for me;
1 these test are meaningless in Guyana.
2 Jim is not a party to the suit – this would admit he has received papers and is a party to the suit.
– Marceline asked if he thought they would re-instate the arrest orders
– Lionel said that was not possible, everything is stayed, there will be no move to resisitate [resuscitate] that until the decission is made.
– Lionel suggested that we should write Debbie Blakey and threaten her
– Sharon asked if he had herd that the decission would probably be favorable for P.T.
– He said no, he had not,
– But that Min. [Desmond] Hoyte said his reports about P.T. were very good, said he had travelled with him this past week, speaking on the ref., (Hoyte has been)
– Lionel asked if Narine [Minister of Works Steve Naraine] went up to J/town or Dr. Reid, as many people as possible should go up.
– Marceline mentioned that Viola Burnham mentioned that she has not forgotten the invitation, and…
– Lionel said that Viola Burnham would be our best ali [ally].
– He suggested we ma a typed copy of Mr. & Mrs Moore’s statements on the tape and send to the U.S.
– We briefly played the tape for him of the Moores, he read the letter written by Vivian Davis, and the quotes from different people who have visited, he didn’t have time to listen to the whole thing, but he did here it on the radio when it was on one of our programs.
– He was friendly, but rushed as always.
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D-2-L-2A
Sharon Amos report of meeting with Lionel Luckhoo, June 28, 1978
Sharon Amos
Lionel Luckhoo 28/6/78 Sharon, Marcie, Debbie
– Marcie talked to him about the paternity suit and Luckhoo said it might be some use in the US to us in terms of the press but that Charles Garry should request it
– we said that Charles had referred it to him as he was handling our case/ he said that he can’t really do it as JJ is not party to the action and therefore it would be implying JJ was party to the action if Luckhoo wrote that letter and also said it can’t be used in the Guyana courts
– Luckhoo said he already wrote Charles Garry asking him to write Debbie Blakey saying that she should make good on the money as we might start extradition proceedings
– Marcie asked what would happen if there was an appeal, regarding an arrest order/ he said that that everything is stayed now, there are no efforts to resuscitate it until a final determination is made
– he asked how Jonestown was doing/ I showed him pictures of Jonestown and the letter of Vivian Davis and some quotes from visitors
– he said that Hoyte had traveled with him recently and said his reports about us are very good
– he asked if certain people had visited our project such as Hoyte and Steve Nariane [Narine]/ I said Naraine had but Hoyte hadn’t-
– I told him that Marcie had talked to Viola Burnham recently and she had mentioned going to the project and he said that would be very good if she did so
– he was very friendly
– I (at the end as we were standing up ready to go) told him that I was getting some inheritance and would like to give him some money he said “You can’t live on bread alone.” But he was warm about it (maybe I should just send it to him in a check?????)
– he listened to part of the Moore tape (but said he heard it on the radio) – Marcie mentioned her healing from CA
– she talked a little about the project, the progress etc.
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D-2-L-2B
[paragraphs scribbled through; likely scratch paper]
It was just a small rag about the Cuban outpost thing and Idi Amin. It is obvious that someone is literally trying to destroy us. We are more patriotic to the American system than any of their bastard sources ever could be, because you learn a lot from living abroad. They tried to make the PNC look like a bunch of communists, and we have heard high level people make critical remarks of Cuba, the Soviet Union, and China.
One thing that we have heard from high ranking visitors is that Cuba sent its black soldiers to Africa to do their dirty work.
We are writing so that people won’t feel that we are passing on information, that would make us look like spy’s for you which would make it look bad for both of us.
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D-2-P-14A
Sharon Amos meeting with attorney John Clarke, March 21, 1978
Sharon Amos
John Clarke (old 21/3/78)
– his calling PM and Reid about meeting with JJ
– he said he’d call the PM late tonight or tomorrow/ he said however he doesn’t want to do it right now because it is not in “your interest or mine”
– said there is nothing to prevent JJ from coming to Georgetown
– he said that regarding the habeous corpus he said the order is nici, granted against JJ, summons by McDoom, solicitor asking habeous corpus proceedings be declared null and void/ he said the judge will declare it null and void
– he said the order was 14/9/77 and yet there was no appearance on behalf of the respondent, order that a bench warrent be issued for the arrest of the infant John [Victor Stoen] and said child be made a ward of the court/ leave was granted since 19/9/77 for contempt of JJ/ in event personal service not affected, can be served by affixing 3 different copies on 3 different places on the gate of PT in the Northwest and a 4th copy served on personal secretary of JJ (someone holding himself out as a servant of JJ) – JJ has to tell the world “this is my agent and servant” – but John said this order is stupid and has ben set aside
– Clarke got the copy from Judge [Aubrey] Bishop / it’s been stayed officially
– he said the original order was made December 1977, Joyce Touchette to be brought up for contempt/ they said she had the custody
– he doesn’t want to trouble Dr. [Ptolemy] Reid/ Cabinet day
– he said I shouldn’t mention the PM’s name on the phone
– he said he doesn’t want to embarrass the PM [Prime Minister Forbes Burnham] by making an appt for him with JJ while present legal proceedings are in process/ can’t do that openly while present proceedings are in effect/ justice must not only be done but must appear to be done
– John Clarke was going to have the court moved to set aside the order but the court realizes it themselves and is doing it themselves/ make it null and void
– there is nothing to prevent JJ from coming in to town
– nobody can give you a date/ can’t force hand of judge, won’t reveal the other ways you can deal with it
– California complaining “only way JJ can win is to delay the situation”, as they say JJ has the govt. in his hands – John said “you haven’t got patience”
– he said it is in your favor and in your interest to wait
– Judge Bishop told him it would be solved in 2-3 weeks
– John wants to come to Jonestown/ he will confirm if he is coming before the day is done/ he had some previous religious appt. will let us know
– PM and Dr. Reid and the govt. are on your side, he said
– John has close “indirect” connection with the judge in the background/ can’t be too direct in arranging for JJ to see the pM/ said PM would be embarrassed if the other side heard JJ had seen the PM
– however he said he’d hint to Dr. Reid and the PM that they could see JJ around 30/3 or 31/3 when JJ is in town/ he felt he could do this without their being embarrassed
– he said there is a file, large one of proceedings from the US/ govt. to govt communication from the US asking the position “why should an American child be forced to remain in this country”- said that Stoen is writing senators, to the foreign office
– John said he couldn’t tell us the names
– govt. says there’s nothing to worry about, chewed me out for asking him the names
JOHN CLARKE (dinner when he came over 3/78)
– he said that he used to be an Ambassador (to some African country like Uganda???)
– he told us of his experiences and how he tried to be fair to the people and still be trusted by the govt.
– he said that the PM had to arrest certain people at one time/ Jagans [Cheddi and Janet Jagan] were both arrested and the files of the case were in John’s hands/ he said that the Jagans actually murdered someone who disagreed with them and then denied it/ he said Jagan was an evil woman
– he said he had the files still/ they were very confidential
– he was very positive but did ask the question “do beatings really happen?” (over)
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D-2-P-14B
– we explained that of course they didn’t happen, we didn’t use corporal punishment at all, and told how we used positive reinforcements etc.
– he said that the case of John, that it made a difference that the judge now knew that JJ is the father of John/ he said the Judge didn’t know that before but now he knows it, it makes a difference/ ordinarily one doesn’t have a right to keep a woman’s child/ she is the natural custodian unless it is deemed in the interest of a child/ if she is unfit morally, physically and financially (in this case since the father asked JJ to sire the child, and the child was voluntarily placed under J’s care and protection by both parents it makes a difference)
– the California paper admits Tim wrote the confession/ he can’t get out of it (tho in the article he says he signed it but it was foolish), John knew JJ was the father of John but thought it was too delicate a matter to bring out
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D-2-P-23
Sharon Amos Meeting with attorney John Clarke, April 10, 1978
Sharon Amos
John Clarke 10/4/78 (Debbie & Sharon)
– re Stoen case: he said that he hadn’t heard anything about the case but the judge said 3-4 weeks and now it isn’t settled, he thinks the judge wants to leave it alone, let it fizzle out, said it was his feeling that it came from up high to leave it alone
– said regarding immigration that no-one could take the child out/ even JJ would have to explain why he was taking John out
– John Clarke claimed the rule was aimed against Tim [Stoen]/ he said that Tim would like the child to go out with JJ so he could start proceedings against JJ in the US
– John said that no-one can take the child out until something is settled with the case
– he reiterated that the govt. is on our side
– said regarding the arrest orders that they’re in the judge’s desk and can’t be activated by the marshall
– re PM [Prime Minister Forbes Burnham] going to USSR; said that people (not John Clarke) told the PM not to go but the PM won’t listen/ nothing can stop him once he makes up his mind/ [Ptolemy] Reid wouldn’t interfere with the PM either on issues when he makes up his mind (not that Reid is against him going to USSR but just in general Reid won’t interfere), Reid tries to go along with the PM’s orders
– said USSR just will try to come over here to Guyana and communize people/ USSR is stingy/ won’t help except to give you guns to fight/ we in Guyana should stay with our old friends Canada, US, England
– US is always willing to help
– USSR has nothing to give, neither does GSR [likely GDR, or German Democratic Republic, or East Germany] or North Korea/ he said the PM claimed on the radio he was going there to cement relations
Blackout
– John was very irritated about the blackout, can’t work, no lights, no water
– John is going to a lawyer’s conference in Antiqua Tues – Sun
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D-2-Q-7A
Report of meeting with Lionel Luckhoo, September 4, 1978
Deborah Touchette
September 4, 1978
Lionel Luckhoo
w/Joan P. [Pursley], Deb T.
– Boat situation; he said he didn’t know about this, but he called his nephew in and told him to look it up for us,
– I offered to give him a list of questions we had on the boat and he said he would have the answers, or try to by the end of the week
– we have to check back fri.
– John Jones; he said he had herd nothing on this so far.
– Ref. to the IMF loan, and if it would have any effect on the external accts.
– he asked how much we had in the acct?
– I told him I didn’t know for sure, but I knew it was well over one hundred thousand U.S.,
– he said he didn’t think it would effect the account if it was in U.S.- dollars,
– but I explained to him that upon transferring, it was in Guyana dollors, but transferable to U,S, or any other currency we wanted.
– he wanted to know if we had this agreement on paper from the Govt of Guyana giving us permission to have an external acct?
– I told him that we did (If my memory serves me correctly, we had to write a letter, asking for an external acct. and they wrote granting the acct.) this of course after long procedures of inquiry etc., but for safty I would like to varify this with Paula A [Adams], and Carolyn L. [Layton]
– he said if this was the case, then it would effect us, but he couldn’t say how much, he would have ot see the agreement the govt. made with the IMF. In order to know who it would effect, and how much.
– he said the agreement that they have so far does not effect you.
– I said they have made an agreement with the IMF?
– he nodded his head yes, but said it does not effect the general public.
– I would suggest you put most of your money in U.S. banks, don’t put any more money in GY dollors then you absolutely have to, because it will effect you, you won’t be able to buy ads many U.S. dollors.
– I asked if there was any wasy we could insure the accounts against that?
– He siad he didn’t know of any way.
– he said he was just leaving for the airport, and would be out of town for the week (not of the country).
– I thanked him for seeing us, we knew he had a very busy schedule,
– he said that was the understatement of the year.
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